A field full of solar panels in rural Walworth County could soon sprout a natural gas-fueled power plant. The planned Foundry Ridge Energy Center is now in the environmental review stage.

The proposed power plant near Darien from energy developer Invenergy aims to provide 324 megawatts of power during peak energy usage times. Some neighbors who live next to the proposed site are not happy about the potential development.

Watch: Darien neighbors worried about planned power plant:

"It's difficult when you choose how you want to raise your family and this gets slammed at us," said Cheryl Simer, who lives within walking distance of the potential Foundry Ridge site. "Don't put this in our yards. Don't put this within a half a mile of anyone's home."

"We don't want to see this monstrosity in our community," said Hannah Schlick, who lives across Turtle Creek from the solar fields and Foundry Ridge site. "We don't want to deal with the potential impact of our air quality, our wells, and our water quality."

TMJ4 asked Invenergy what the impacts of the project would be if it is approved by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.

In a statement, they said:

The statement continued:

The Public Service Commission is taking comments from the public on the Foundry Ridge proposal until April 24. You can share your feedback by clicking here.

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Matheson Memorial Library customers have watched it transform after months of reconstruction. The work is almost done, but the last part will require the library to shut down for a while.

Elkhorn's public library will close the week of April 6 so construction crews can install the building's new HVAC system. Afterwards, the inside of the library will remain off-limits until the renovation finishes in late May.

"It will be kind of a throwback to COVID, a curbside service for a couple of weeks," said Matheson Memorial Library director Chad Robinson. "Pardon the pun, but we're all turning a page to a new chapter."

The $2.2 million renovation was financed by a state grant. Most of the library's new areas are complete, including an expanded children's section and new study rooms.

Lena Leibovic of Williams Bay takes her sons to Matheson because she said they enjoy the experience of the library.

Watch: People at Elkhorn's public library excited to reach conclusion of $2.2 million renovation

"We come here weekly and bring home at least 20 books," Leibovic said. "My younger one loves it, especially. When we parked, he screamed to his older brother, 'I used to play here all the time!'"

The library also includes a dedicated space for the Walworth County Genealogy Society. Member Judy Rockwell said she is excited to help new customers discover the county's history.

"You become addicted to genealogy," Rockwell said. "We've had people from all over the country come in and do research."

The Matheson Memorial Library is the fourth library in Walworth County to experience construction this year. Whitewater's newly expanded library opened in February, the Lake Geneva Public Library plans to finish its renovated meeting room in April, and the new Aram Public Library in Delavan will be under construction until 2027.

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The sudden sale and closure of Elkhorn Pharmacy on Thursday left East Troy Pharmacy as the last local drug store standing in Walworth County. East Troy pharmacist Keith Witt believes there's one big reason why small drug stores are closing.

Witt told TMJ4 the major challenge he's facing is dealing with pharmacy benefit managers, who set the drug prices from the manufacturer to pharmacies. He says the rates they set for smaller pharmacies often cost them money.

"They will reimburse me on a fair amount of medication less than what it costs me to buy it for," Witt said.

Witt is now welcoming customers who defected from Elkhorn Pharmacy after they were sold to Walgreens.

"People are still striving to maintain that kind of connection," Witt said.

Witt said at least twenty customers from Elkhorn have already switched their prescriptions to East Troy.

Erin Severson has been coming to Witt's pharmacy since she moved to East Troy a decade ago. She said she understands why people in Elkhorn are trying hard to stay local.

"It just feels a lot more personable," Severson said. "He's someone who knows me, which never happens at the other pharmacies."

Witt said he will keep up with demand, but said one drug in particular is now a point of contention for his pharmacy: GLP-1 weight loss medications.

"I've lost up to $150 filling one of these boxes," Witt said. "It gets tough to make those decisions. Sometimes I do have to turn people away, especially if that's all they're coming here for."

WATCH: East Troy Pharmacy owner explains struggles of independent drug stores after Elkhorn Pharmacy's closure

Despite the economic challenges, Witt said he has no plans to close and leave Walworth County without a local drug store.

"Being the last one is kind of a badge of distinction in one way, but on the other hand, it's not something I'm proud of as a pharmacist," Witt said.

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People in Elkhorn no longer have a locally-owned option to fill their prescriptions. Elkhorn Pharmacy closed without warning on Thursday after it was purchased by Walgreens.

WATCH: Elkhorn Pharmacy closed without warning after it was purchased by Walgreens

Customers hoping to pick up their medication at Elkhorn Pharmacy Thursday morning instead found the doors locked and signs redirecting them to the Elkhorn Walgreens. The drug store did not make any announcement on social media and the pharmacy was still listed as open on Google Maps throughout the day.

"I was knocking on the door when the door was locked," said Elkhorn Pharmacy customer Jan Schaul, who received an explanation from the owner after tugging on the locked door. "She said she felt terrible that they have to close down and that all of my prescriptions are at Walgreens. It's very hard to find a good pharmacy because they were so caring here."

Amanda Lindner said she and her husband used Elkhorn Pharmacy for their prescriptions specifically to avoid Walgreens.

"He's like, 'I don't like Walgreens,' and I said, 'Well, that's where we've got to go now," Lindner said. "The little places are slowly dying around everywhere. It's kind of sad."

Walgreens is now the only drug store in Elkhorn city limits.

Lindner and Schaul are both trying to accept the loss of their independent drugstore in this economy.

"I was hoping I was going to be able to dodge this because I like coming here, but it's not going to happen, I guess," Lindner said.

"It was locked, I knocked, and I guess that's it," Schaul said. "We're going to Walgreens."

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If you and an organization have an idea to make Whitewater a better and more educated place, the Whitewater Community Foundation might just award you money to make it happen.

The foundation has opened the Spring application window for its Community Action Grants, which it awards twice a year. The foundation has a yearly pool of about $14,000 allocated for the grants.

"We want people to be encouraged to come up with their ideas for the betterment of the community," said Whitewater Community Foundation at-large director Ginny Coburn, who oversees the grant program.

Coburn showed TMJ4 grant-funded improvements at Starin Park, including bilingual signs to help parents of young children develop their brains.

Watch: Whitewater Community Foundation director hopes organizations apply for city improvement grants

She hopes people in Whitewater bring whatever thoughts they have to the table.

"People here come up with ideas and value what they have," Coburn said. "Most of the projects that we fund recognize that and promote that."

Rosemary Green has lived in Whitewater for more than 50 years, including serving on both city council and the library board. She has no involvement with the Whitewater Community Foundation, but is just as hopeful for the ideas people may have.

"There is a sense of commitment to the philosophy of this city. Everybody gives something," Green said. "We have so many quiet heroes and we have people who are ready to support."

If you are interested in submitting a grant application, click this link. The application window closes on April 30.

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